Foreword by Sean Yates
I was out running with Allan during the Tour of Romandie this year and,
chatting away as we were, I reminded him about the time, long ago, when
he sat with his bare feet in a bowl of hot water ten minutes before he
was due to ride the prologue of the Tour of the Med. Laugh not –
he won! He told me that that was the sort of stuff I should put in the
foreword I was writing for his book.

We first got to know each other in 1983 when he joined the Peugeot
team, which I was then a member of. Straight away he struck me as a man
who knew exactly what he wanted, and that came as a real shock to me,
because at that time I was just cruising along, not really knowing were
I was going. His thoughts and ideas gave me a kick up the backside.
Many of them I still have firmly embedded in my mind to this day
– like the almond milk he got me drinking, and liking.
‘Very good for you,’ he said. Get a ton of almonds, drop
them in boiling water for thirty seconds, peel them, grind them with a
coffee grinder, tip into a blender, add a liberal dose of honey, top up
with water and blend. Hey presto, almond milk. And absolutely
delicious. Also about a million calories, which he forgot to tell me
about; hence the Mister Blobby look-alike who used to go riding around
in Peugeot kit.

But it wasn’t just his concern that a racing cyclist needed to
eat properly: I also got a taste of his discipline and dedication when
I stayed with him in Belgium. His bike was always immaculately clean
and his clothes perfectly folded. Training was at nine o’clock
sharp, come rain or sunshine, and the tempo was always high. Once back
we had a shower in a bathroom which had a little electric heater, and
the water used to literally dribble out. There was no heating in the
bedrooms, so we slept under a pile of about ten blankets, which just
about crushed me.

I have so many fond memories of the times we have spent together, since
those early years when we were trying to make our way as young pros.
All great memories that I will cherish for the rest of my days. Like
the mini-Olympics we set up when we were both staying at Surfers
Paradise – he couldn’t get over how good I was at tennis.
And what was left of the tyres on that V8 Holden we rented. And what
about the time I led him out for a time bonus sprint in the ’84
Tour? He had the white jersey of the best young rider on his shoulders
after coming third in the prologue and third in the first stage bunch
finish – although how he managed that I still can’t figure
out. Anyway, he didn’t come off my back wheel, like he should
have done, but Jan Raas did. I turned round to Allan and snapped at
him, ‘That’s the last bloody time I’m leading you
out!’ It was a bit cruel, and I don’t know why he
didn’t hit me. The fact is, we complimented each other really
well – the Little and Large Show. We lifted each other,
especially when it came to time trials. And now, more than twenty years
since we first met, we are back together on the continental circuit,
trading wins and champagne like in this year’s Giro.

In all the years I’ve known Allan I’ve never ceased to be
amazed by the stories he tells of his upbringing. It was a tough one
compared to mine, and it definitely shaped him in later life. Hearing
those stories again made me – and I am certain many of you who
will read his book – realise just how lucky we have been. What I
am sure you will also get from A Peiper’s Tale is a sense of the
passion and feeling that Allan has for life, and for this sport of
cycling.
Sean Yates

‘Allan Peiper was always a little bit different – an
excellent rider who could sometimes pull off a remarkable win and an
awesome competitor to have riding against you. However Allan’s
life was a lot more complicated than it seemed. His difficult
childhood, his struggles when he came to Europe and the traumas he went
though after he retired are brought to life in this remarkable
biography.’Phil Liggett, MBE – Cycling broadcaster OLN and ITV

‘You won’t read a more revealing,
heart searching and poignant book about a professional cyclist than
this one.’Luke Evans – cycling journalist and editor

‘I really enjoyed Allan’s book, it
brought back so many memories. In those days we were all warriors and
explorers going into the unknown. It did seem at times like hostile
territory, but hopefully we made the road a little easier for the guys
who followed us.’Paul Sherwen – Cycling broadcaster OLN and ITV

‘They were called the “Foreign
Legion” – that advanced party of English-speaking riders in
the early 1980s taking on the Continentals at their own game. It needed
dedication and humour to survive, and Allan has both. This book will
amuse you, but also provide a unique insight into the life of a pro
bike rider.’David Duffield – British Eurosport

Of all the books I have published or been involved with, A
Peiper’s Tale is the one that is closest to my heart. For reasons
I can’t really explain I just knew that Allan had a great book to
write. Call it luck or, if you are feeling generous, call it
publisher’s instinct.

It was though a good friend, Jonathan Spruce, and the fine writer and
journalist, Chris Sidwells, that I first learned that Allan was very
keen to write a book. In fact, talking to Allan recently, I realised
that this had long been an ambition of his. However, at the time, I did
not appreciate the depth of his passion, and his need, to write, share
his life experiences, and open up his soul to the public. Maybe you
could put this down to his egotism, which was a theme he continually
dwelt upon throughout the first draft of the book. In reality, quite
the opposite seemed to be true: here was a story written by a man of
genuine modesty who seemed not to see that it was this very honesty and
lack of ego that made his story so compelling, and his book so
readable.

When I received the first drafts of the book I was immediately
captivated by Allan’s account of his childhood and his early days
of racing. It was so different from the cycling books we had published,
and I had read before. This was the story of his life, in all its
aspects, and his candid style didn’t leave a lot to the
imagination. Further into the book, Allan related episodes of
friendship, betrayal and jealousy, again without pulling any punches.
His take on some of the biggest names in cycle racing during the last
three decades was enthralling, and these are some of the most revealing
in the book. Similarly, his opinions and shared experiences of doping
are tackled not just with his natural frankness, but with a refreshing
optimism for the future. And here, as in the rest of the book, he never
resorts to sensationalism. It was these qualities which convinced me
that A Peiper’s Tale should be published.

We at Sport & Publicity, and our co-publisher Adrian Bell at
Mousehold Press, are very proud to be associated with this fine book
and would like to thank Allan and, of course, Chris Sidwells for their
confidence in us. We hope the reader gets as much enjoyment and
satisfaction we have had in helping to produce A Peiper’s Tale.
Enjoy.
RICHARD ALLCHIN